Folding chair



June 18, 1935; v -s 2,005,715

FOLDING CHAIR Filed April 21, 1931 3 Shets-Sheet l 47/ I as June 18, 1935. I J. KOVATS 2,005,715

FOLDING CHAIR Filed April 21, 1951 5 Sheets-Shea; 2

s I m I 10/ June 18, 1935. J, ovA'rs 2,005,715

FIOLDI NG CHAIR Filed April Zl, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 7f

RNEY

Patented June 18, 1935 PATENT oFFicE FOLDING CHAIR John Kovats, Fairfield, Conn, assignor to The Leg-O-Matic Company, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application April 21, 1931, Serial No. 531,663

2 Claims.

This invention relates to foldable chairs, and more specifically, to an improved mechanism for folding and extending the chair legs automatically upon moving the back into its folded or extended position; being an improvement of the foldable chair disclosed in'iny prior application, Serial Number 517,428, filed February 21, 1931.

It is an object of this invention to provide a mechanism for foldable chairs comprising fewer parts and of sturdier construction than those heretofore proposed.

A feature of the present invention is the provisionof an improved catch or locking means to maintain the seat in extended position.

Another feature is the provision of a very simple direct one-link connection between the back member and the rear legs for automatically mov ing the'latter into folded and extended position when the back member is moved to these respective positions.

A further feature is the provision of a very simple and very sturdy leg hinge and support construction.

A still further feature is a metal to metal stop means to limit movement of the rear legs into extended position.

And yet another feature of the present invention is the provision of a simple direct connection between the back member andthe front legs for automatically moving the legs into folded and extended positions.

Other objects and advantages will be described or apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved chair in extended or unfolded position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the chair in folded condition, standing on end.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through Fig. 4 is a top planof that portion of the chair shown in Fig. 3, with the seat removed.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the center of the chair, similar to- Fig. 3, but shows the catch released and the legs and back inpartially folded position.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View, similar to Figs. 3

and 5, but ShOWs the back and legs in fully folded position.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but shows another form of front leg h trol means.

inge, support and conis a longitudinal sectional view, similar the legs and back in fully l2, all of which are recessed as at 13 to accome modate a seat iii of any suitable material and construction. The seat member may, of course, be square or of any other desired shape, but in 15 its present preferred embodiment it is slightly oblong and flared toward the front so that front legs id will be spaced somewhat wider apart than rear legs i5 so as to fold longitudinally adjacent each other on the underside of the seat mem her in. a manner hereinafter more completely described. r

In the present constructionfeach of the front legs 14 is pivoted to the seat member ll) preferably by brackets l6 secured to the underside of the side bar i i and front bar 12 of the" seat memher, and having a downwardly extending'ear l l forming a support for a stud I8 upon which the front leg is mounted for pivotal movement into either the folded position shown in. Fig. 6, or ex 0 tended position shown in Fig. 3. A flat portion l9 at the end of each leg engages the bracket IE to limit movement of the leg into extended position and serves to make the chair more rigid while a cross bar 2% between the two front legs may be used to further brace the chair against sidewise'pressure or movement.

The front legs M are still further braced in extended position by a toggle 2i preferably one for each leg, comprising a pair of and 2.3 pivoted on a stud 24 to the leg and'at its other end on a stud 25 to the side bar ll of the seat member it, and pivoted intermediate these pivots with a rivet 26. These toggles also serve to fold and extend the legs automatically as hereinafter described.

Secured to the inner side of each of the side bars II, near the rear ends thereof, is 'a bracket 21 which is provided with an upper extension 28 and a lower extension 29'. The lower extension 29 of each bracket pivotally supports a rear leg 15 and for this purpose the rear legs are preferably provided with plates 30 fixed thereon with bolts 3| and pivotally connected '-to the lower extensiontwitha stud 32 toggle links?! The upper extension 28 of each of the brackets 21 is arranged topivotally support a back member 34 comprising side bars 35 and back panel 36 for movement into either an extended position or a folded position relative to the seat member.

'Pre'ferably, this is accomplished by securing a plate 31 to each of the bars 35 having a short extension 38 provided with a hole aligned with a hole the bracket extension 28 with a rivet or stud 39 passing therethrough. The pivot 39 location on the bracket extension 28 and on the plate 3! is offset slightly with respect to the members upon which they are mounted so that'the back member 34 may be folded substantially flat against the seat member ID as shown in Fig.5.

The structure and pivotal supports of the front leg, back leg, and back member so far described 7 are substantially similar to the construction dieclosed in my copending application Serial No. 517,428, filed February 21, 1931. Further, it should be understood that although the present Figs. 3 and 6 show the mechanism for the front legs, back legs and back member on one side of the chair, the mechanism is substantially duplicate for the other side of the chair.

Coming now to some of the more important aspects of the present invention, it should be particularly noted that the upper end of each of the rear leg .plates 30. is provided with a long for wardly extending offset 43, that each of the back member plates 31 at the lower end is provided sturdy means for automatically moving the rear I back member 34 I shown in Fig. 3.

legs l5 into folded or extended position when the is moved into either of these positions. i

The operation is as follows: In order tomove the rear legs I 5 from the extended position shown in Fig. 3, into the folded position shown in Fig. '6, the operator-need merely grasp the bar 2 of the seat member 34 with one hand and the back member 34 at 45 with his other hand, then swing the'back member upon the pivots 39 toward the seat member ID. As the lower end of the back member swings about the pivots 39 it moves the offset 4| down and back while the pivot 44 thereon through the link 42 pulls the pivot 43 on the rear leg plate offset 4|] first upwardly then rear wardly to pull the rear leg |5 in a clockwise di rection toward the bottom of the seat member about its pivot 32 as shown in the partially folded condition in Fig. 5, and in fully folded position in Fig. 6.

Similarly, according to the present invention, the rear legs are moved into extended position from the folded position automatically by merely swinging the back member away from the seat member H! on the pivots 39 for, as the offset pivot 44 thereon moves downwardly and forwardly, it pushes the interconnected link 42 and thereby moves the interconnected rear leg offset pivot 43 and rear leg .|5 in"a counter-clockwise direction on the pivot 32 into the extended position Movement of the back member 34 about the pivot 39 into extended position is limited by a side 46 of the lower end of the back member bars 35 engaging'the rear edges 41 of the seat member ID. This engagement also serves to support or brace the back member against any heavy strain or pressure, as when a person leans against it. Interconnected movement of the rear legs into extended position is limited by an edge 48 on the back member plates 31 engaging a coop: crating edge 49 on the rear leg plates 30 if desired, and, by the lower ends 50 of the back member bars 35 engaging the top ends 5| of the rear legs I5 at substantially the same time that the side 46 of the back member 34 engagestherear edge 47 of the seat member, as shown in Fig. 3, to pro vide a rigid support for both the back member and rear legs in the extended position.

These 'parts are further braced by the rear leg offset 48 pulling on the link 42 and interconnected offset 4| so that the pressure on the rear legs |5 only tends to move the back member 34 more firmly into engagement with the rear edge 41 of the, seat member. I A cross bar 52 extending between the two rear legs |5 braces the legs against sidewise strain and also makes it possible to use a link 42 connection on only one side of the chair if desired, but for additional strength andto make the chair more positive in its action, itis preferable to providethe link 42 connection on both sides of the chain; a

The construction and operationof the rear legs l5 and interconnectedback member 34 has just been described in detail without respect to the front legs l4, because in its more specific aspects they may be used with various types of fronti leg constructions. However, the'back member 34 is also arranged to automatically move'the'front legs l4 into folded andextended positions to'* gether with the rear legs |5 when the latter are moved to their respective positions- This ispreferably accomplished by providing a long link53 at two sides of the chair connected at one of its ends to the stud 44 on the back member plates 31 and near its other end by a stud'54 to the front leg toggle 2|. links 53 may serve to control'both of the front legs l4 when they are provided with the cross bar 20, it is preferable to provide two of these link connections, one on each side of the chain With this arrangement then, in order to move all the legs from folded into extended position, it is merely necessary for the operator to'grasp the seat member H! with one hand and move the back member 34 about the pivots 39 in a clockwise direction, as viewedin Fig. 5, and the lower stud 44 in its clockwise movement will push the short links 42 and long links 53 forwardly. The short link 42 swings the rear legs -|5 ina counterclockwise direction on the pivots 32 and the long link 53 extends the front leg toggles 2| so that all four legs may be automatically moved from the closed position shown in Fig. 6 into the open or extended position shown in Fig. 3, by merely moving the back member 34 into" extended posi tion-an intermediate position being shown in Fig. 3.

Similarly, all four legs may be quickly folded tion toward the rear and on the underside of the seat member .IO and at the same time the short links 42 pull the rear legs |5 in. a direction toward the front and onto the underside of the seat member, preferably between the two folded front legs H, as showninFig. 6. r J

Although just "one of these one sideof the chair, it should It should. be particularly noted that the presentinvention provides: a novel and very efficient locking means 55 to-lock. the back member 34, front legs l4, and rear legs IS in extended position, comprising a catch 56 pivotally mounted on a stud 51 provided with a notch 58 adapted to engage an onset 53 or other similar means on the long link 53. The catch 55 isprovided with an angularly disposed section 50 adjacent the seat member front bar l2 and the lower portion of this section is provided with a shoulder Si adapted to engage the front bar l2 and limit clockwise pivotal movement of the catch plate 56 under the influence of a spring 62.

catch 56 automatically locks the parts in extended position, for, as the back member 34 and interconnected parts are moved toward extended position, the link offset 59 engages a bevel edge 83 of the catch 56 to lift the latter in a c'ountenclockwise direction, and as the parts reach fully extended position, the notch 58 engages the link off-set 59; as shown in Fig. 3, to firmlylock all the parts in extended position.

Although all four legs and the back member 36 maybe locked in extended position with a single catch as shown in Fig. it is at present preferred to extend the section Bl! entirely across on the inner side of the front bar 52 to the opposite side bar N, there to provide it with another right angle bent portion forming a second catch 56 pivoted on a second stud 5'! and adapted to" engage offset 59 on the second long link 3T0 release the locking means 55, it is merely necessary for the operator to grasp the front of the seat member, then pinch the catch section all above the plane of 'thepivot stud -51 to move the catch ina counter-clockwisedirection until notch 53 moves out of engagement with the long link offset 55. Thereafter the back member may be moved about its pivots 39 toward the seat member it to automatically move all the legs into folded position, as hereinbefore described.

In the form of chair'shownin Figs. Z to 10 inclusive, the connections between-the seat member l0, back member 34 and rear legs l5 are the same in the form shown in Figs; 1 to 6 inclusive, and hcreinbefore described in detail, but with the further provision of a metal to metal stop If! to limit movement of the rear logs into extended position. These figures also'show a particularly advantageous modified form of leg hinge and support, and control mechanism therefor, as will be described in detail hereinafter. Although the various views show the mechanism for only be'understood that the various parts are practically duplicated for the other side of the chair. I

The stop 19, according to the present invention, preferably comprises'an extension ii on the side plate 21 formed at a right angle to provide a stop shelf 12 and a projection '53 on: the rear leg plateiii! adapted to move into engagement with the shelf 12 at predetermined times.

With this metal to metal stop 15, the operator may, in the hereinbefore described manner, grasp the seat member l with one hand and the back member 34 with the other hand, then swing the latter about the pivots 39 from the folded position shown in Fig. 8 toward the extended or unfolded position shown in Fig. 7. During this operation, the link 52 through the pivots 4:3 and 43 on the back member plate offset 4! and rear leg plate offset 40 respectively, pushes the rear legs in a counterclockwise direction about the pivots 32, until the projection 13 engages the tended station each time, even shelf 72, and at the same time the sidetfi of the back member bars 35 engage the rear edges 41 of the seat member ldthe edge 38 on the back member plates 3i engages the cooperating edge 49 on the rear leg plates to, and the lower ends B of the back member bars to engage the top ends 5! of the rear legs 55. I

The particular advantages of the stop it are that it provides additional support for the pivot ally mounted rear legs it, especially when a person sits on the chair, and it stops the rear logs, and thereby the back member through the step edges t8 and :9, in positively the same ex.-

though the wood stops id to ill and so to 5! shrink considerably, as might occur if the back member 34 and seat member is are inadvertently made with reen or improperly dried wood. p

The modified form of front leg hinge support and control therefor shown in Figs; to incluslve, is particularly advantageous, for it comprisesfewer parts than those heretofore proposed, and the parts are substantially concealed. Further, the support is such that it is possible to dispense with the usual unattractive cross bar between the two front legs. In present preferred. form, the hinge support comprises a bracket of triangular shape adapted to extend for a substantial length along the underside of. the side bar H where it is heldby two screws '68 and along the underside of the front bar l2, where it is held by two additional screws it. This bracket thus serves to greatly strengthen or brace the corner connection between the front bar 62 and side bar H. The bracket is provided with downturned ears ll adapted to accommodate a barrelled member 58 portion of a plate 19 on the front leg 14 with a pivot pin extending therebetween, forming the hinge and support 8|.

The plate 19 is connected to the rear side of the front leg id with studs 82 or any other suit-- able means, and the barrelled member l3 thereof is oifset slightly relative to the. top end face it! of the leg 54 so that the entire top face moves downwardly away from the underside S3 of the bracket E5 when the leg is moved from the,position shown in Fig. '2, thereby mak'ng it unnecesary to round the corneror cutaway any of the top end is of the leg for clearance during pivotal movement inthe usual manner. Thus, there is provided a large area of supportin contact between the leg M and seat member ii? when the leg is in the extended or load supporting position. shown in Fig. '7, which adds greatly to the ri idity of the chair.

The bracket ears H are widespaced and the plate is is gradually tapered from the bottom. toward the top as shown in Fig. 10, and including the barrelled member l3, so, that the latter is considerably wider than the chair leg bl; thus, the hinge iiiof the present invention effectively braces the leg i l against unusual'sidewise strain. This feature, and the pivotal connection which makes it possible to provide a large area of con tact where the chair leg engages the seat member, provides such a rigid support for theleg that it is unnecessary to provide a usual unattractive supporting or bracing cross bar between the two front legs. Although the type of pivoted leg hinge and support provided by the present invention is especially applicable with the automatic folding chair of the present invention, and with an automatic control to be described hereinafter, it should be understood that it may be used advantageously in non-automatic folding chairs, and

' its pivot 86 until the flat may be used to'advantage in a folding table or the like.

' It should also be noted that thehinge 8| of Q the present'invention provides a very strong pivoted leg construction by making it unnecessary to drill a large trunnion hole through the leg (the usual method), and also, it is not necessary to provide trunnion plates on the sides of the leg with this form of hinge, which make it possible to round the corner 84 between the side bar II and front bar I2, to improve the appearance of the chair, and make it-possible to provide the chair with round and other unusual shaped legs.

In order to move the front leg l4 on the hinge and. support 8! provided by the present invention, together with the rear leg l5, automatically from the folded position shown in Fig. '7 into the extended position shown in Fig. 8, the present invention provides a long link 53 connected at its rear end to the pivot 44 on the back member offset 4| (which connects the short link 42 with the back member 'oifset 4|) and extends toward the front of the chair, passing through an aperture 85 provided therefor in theplate 19, to the side of the leg !4 to which it is directly connected by a pivot stud 85.

With this control mechanism, it is merely necessary for the operator to grasp the back member 34 with one hand and the seat member II) with his other hand, then pull the back member away from the seat member ID onthe pivots 39 to thereby move the pivot 44 onthe back member offset 4| downwardly and forwardly and,'through the short link 42 and the rear leg offset pivot 43, swings the rear legs about the pivot 32 into the extended position as hereinbefore described. During this movement the pivot 44 also pushes the long link 53' forwardly while the" pivot 86 at the front end of the link, through its direct connection with the front leg l4, moves the leg on end l9 engages the underside of the bracket 15, asshown in Fig. 7.

The location of the pivots 39 and 44 relative to the pivots 80 and 86 is such that the front leg reaches the extended position at the same time that the rear legs l and back member 34 reach 'their extended position. The front leg [4 is Y both front legs into extended and folded positions if a cross bar is provided between the two front legs; however, because of the added strength and enhanced general appearance made possible by the omission of a cross bar between the two front legs (which omission is made possible by the simple and sturdy front, leg hinge, support and control of this invention) ,it is at present preferredtoprovide a long link 53' for each of the front legs l4.

The simple and sturdy hinge and support 8| for the front leg l4 and the automatic control having direct connection with the leg, as'provlded by the present invention, facilitates the operation of automatically moving the legs into folded and extended positions and makes the chair sturdier for use and more positive in its action than chairs of this type heretofore provided. Further, the construction is such that unusual shaped legs may be used, and the working parts are substantially hidden, thereby the general appearance of the chair is also improved.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimedas new and for which it is desired to obtain Letters Patent, is:-- I

1. A foldable chair comprising a seat member; a back member pivoted to said seat member for movement into either a folded position or'an ex- 7 tended position; front legs pivoted to said seat actuator links connected to and extending from said back member secondary pivot, one to the pair of toggle links and the other to the secondarypivot on the rear legs to move; the front legs and rear legs into folded and extended positions automatically when the back member is moved into folded or extended positions respectively.

2. A foldable chair comprising a seat member; a back member pivotedto said seat member for movement into either a folded or an extended position; front legs pivoted to said seat member; a pair of toggle links'j pivoted respectively to the seat member and front legs and pivoted together intermediate these pivots and having folded and extended positions; rear legs pivoted to said seat member; secondary pivots on said back member and on said rear legs; a short link connection between said secondary pivots to move the rear legs into either a folded or extended position automatically as the back member is moved to these respective positions; an actuator link connected links and the short link connection in the extended positions.

JOHN KOVATS.

at both sides of the chair, one 

